A NEW VARIETY OF ASPHALT. 351 



A specimen of asphalt from Cuba was analyzed at the same time. Its density was 



1-117, its relations of vol. matter, &C., as follows: — 



Coke, ..... 32-00 



Vol. Malter, .... 67 ('><> 



Ash, ..... Din 



100-00 



The percentage relations of the two analyses are as follow : — 



Melan-Asphalt. 



B6-037 



8-962 



•^■930 

 traces 

 1-971 

 0-100 



100-000 1(10-000 



Subtracting the ash, and uniting the nitrogen and oxygen, we have 



Cuban Asphalt. Melan-Asphalt. 

 Cuban .... 82-070 80-r_'3 



Hydrogen ... 9-141 8-971 



oxygen and Nitrogen 8-189 1-906 



1 00-000 100000 



Taking carbon one thousand, we have in 



Cuban Asphalt. Mfolan-Asph&lt. 



Hydrogen ... 110 104 



Oxygen and Nitrogen 99 ">T 



In calculating the formula for the Cuban asphalt, neglecting the nitrogen, il would giv< 

 CkHjsOjj. The formula for mclan-asphalt would be Q 1 1. ( >.V in whic li the number of 

 equivalents of C arid II for one of O, is nearly fourfold thai in the case of the Cuban 

 asphalt. 



The mclan-asphalt, like that from Cuba and Egypt, becomes highly electrified by friction. 

 Coal does not present this phenomenon. 



The question as to the constitution of the asphalts, with a vii w to their classification, 

 has been much neglected by chemists, yet it is an interesting one, as throwing great lighl 

 upon their origin, which remains in a state of uncertainly, ^mong the bitumi at and as- 

 phalts, there exists a great variety as to external appearance, consistency, Bolubility, and 

 proportion of elementary constituents. Boussingault in his "Memoire nir la Composition 



